Packaging machine having article receiving and transferring sections for handling articles in group formation



March 6, 1951 J. c. BAIN ET AL 2,544,125 PACKAGING MACHINE HAVING ARTICLE RECEIVING AND TRANSFERRING SECTIONS FOR HANDLING ARTICLES IN GROUP FORMATION 26, 1944 7 Sheets$heet 1 Filed Dec.

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March 6, 1951 J; c. BAIN ET AL 2,544,125

PACKAGING MACHINE HAVING ARTICLE RECEIVING AND TRANSFERRING SECTIONS FOR HANDLING ARTICLES IN GROUP FORMATION Filed Dec. 26, 1944 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.2

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42 REAST AT'T 5 March 6, 1951 J. c. BAIN ET AL PACKAGING MACHINE HAVING ARTICLE RECEIVING AND TRANSFERRING SECTIONS FOR HANDLING ARTICLES IN GROUP FORMATION '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 26, 1944 m, Z m 4 a I n nd lbw a H i a B- 0 r n m #4 I Q 4 T r gig AT TY5 J. C. BAIN ET AL March 6, 1951 PACKAGING M SECTIONS FOR HANDLING ARTICLES IN GROUP FORMATION v 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 26, 1944 a f R a. mmm 6 5 B M T a [B1 A v 6 v wVflR 6 0 1 NJE 0 4 4 Y 5 5 Z 3 B 7 I'll. Ill 5 YVLW 1 rr JL.!|.I 6 3 4 ii w -u I I I l l i 77 a ll 1' nl 2 Q 7 /5 1 WM mm 777 9 a f 5 u w mx 6 7 ww I. 2 6 6 is A 0a 5 2% w m 4 a fl w WK ZM p 7 a 7 90 I! L DYE/Mn w 4 a. a 5 NW 2 w x 6 0 I.

March 6, 1951 J. c. BAIN ET AL 2,544,125

PACKAGING MACHINE HAVING ARTICLE RECEIVING AND TRANSFERRING SECTIONS FOR HANDLING ARTICLES IN GROUP FORMATION Filed Dec. 26, 1944 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 FNVENTEIRE.

JG BAIN- EREAST BAlN ET AL March 6; 1951 J. c. 2,544,125

PACKAGING MACHINE HAVING ARTICLE RECEIVING AND TRANSFERRING SECTIONS FOR HANDLING ARTICLES IN GROUP FORMATION 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Dec. 26, 1944 March 6, 1951 J. c, BAIN ET AL 2,544,125

PACKAGING MACHINE HAVING ARTICLE RECEIVING AND TRANSFERRING SECTIONS FOR HANDLING ARTICLES IN GROUP FORMATION Filed Dec. 26, 1944 '7 Sheets-Sheet '7 m3 as? g0 Mg INVENTURE .-J.B.BA| N Patented Mar. 6, 1951 UNITED STATES ATENT @FFICE PACKAGING MACHINE HAVENG ARTICLE RECEIVING AND TRANSFERRING SEC- TIONS FOR HANDLING ARTICLES IN GROUP FORMATION Joseph C. Bain and Frank R; East,-Tr0nto, Ontario, Canada Claims. 1

This invention relates to packaging machines and in particular to machines designed to pack tablets or wafer-like articles. such as lozenges, uniformly in containers designed to contain a group of the articles.

In the packaging of lozenges, as an example, it has been usual up to the present time to employ a number of packers to dispose the wrapped lozengcs in packages and this necessarily requires quite a number of packagers at a substantial cost while the amount packed is less than might ordinarily be desirable and possible when using a machine such as produced under the present invention. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a packaging machine which is particularly designed for small articles such as lozenges and which will provide for the uniform packing of such small articles at a substantial rate of speed. 7

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of this kind which will require a minimum number of persons to operate it and, will produce a quantity of packaged articles, in excess of that possible with four times as many persons packing manually.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of this kind which will package wrapped and unwrapped articles and in which both wrapped and unwrapped articles will be packed uniformly in all respects.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a machine of this character which is not complicated in general construction and which may be operated and controlled under all conditions in a practical manner.

With these and other objects in View the invention, in broader phases, comprises a packaging machine including a means of assembling articles in predetermined uniform groups and suction means for transferring one or more groups into a container.

The invention will be clearly understood by reference to the following detailed specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the packaging machine according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 and showing lower portions of the machine in top plan view.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged top plan detail, partly in section of the article transferring mechanism and the feeding mechanism for the packages to receive the lozenges.

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail of the means for 7 agitating the agitating table.

Figs. 6 and 7 and 8 are enlarged sectional details showing in step by step relation the manner in which the lozenges are received from the agitating table and grouped for packaging.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary detail plan of the grouping mechanism for groupingand transferring groups of lozenges in uniform arrangement for transfer to the packages.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged sectional detail taken on the line lfi-l c of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged perspective detail of the cam arm associated with the grouping mechanism in the grouping of the lozenges for packaging.

Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the cam for operating the grouping mechanism generally illustrated in Fig. 9.

Fig.- 13 is an enlarged side elevation partly in section of the transferring mechanism for lifting groups of lozenges and elevating them and transferring them to the location of the boxes.

Fig. 13a is a sectional detail on line l3al3a of Fig. 13.

Fig. 14. is an enlarged sectional detail of the box or package feeding mechanism.

Fig. 15 is a plan detail of the mechanism for clutching the main shaft in driving engagement with the box or feeding mechanism.

Fig. 15a is a side elevational detail of the cam for operating the clutch shown in Fig. 15.

Fig. 151) is a sectional View on line l5bl5b of Fig. 15.

Fig. 16 is an enlarged detail of the clutching mechanism shown in Fig. 15.

Fig. 17 is an end elevational detail of the dog mechanism and slide for moving the package feeding belts intermittently.

Fig. 18 is an enlarged plan view of the valve mechanism employed in conjunction with the suction head.

Fig. 19 is a schematic plan view of the suction valve and its connection with the suction heads and the vacuum pump.

Fig. 20 is a sectional detail of the valve mechanism shown in Fig. 19 and illustrating its general connection with the suction pump.

Fig. 21 is a transverse section taken through the suction head to illustrate the suction passages.

Fig. 22 is an enlarged detail of a suction cup as employed in the suction head.

Fig. 23 is an enlarged perspective detail of the channels in the vibrating table and in the feed chute for transferring the articles from the one to the other.

Fig. 24 is a schematic perspective illustration showing the timing circuit for operatingthe suction head in both directions.

Referring to the drawings:

A indicates the machine as a whole which employs a suitable framework including the uprights if), upper and lower cross members H and i2 and a super structure 23. A suitable operating motor B is mounted on a platform l4 carried by the lower cross members H and by means of the gear reduction unit i5 effects the operation of the necessary parts requiring predetermined movement. In this respect, by means of a suitable sprocket it, operated from the gear reduction unit [6, and the connecting chain II the main drive shaft i8 is rotated. This latter then transmits the necessary motions to a number of other parts of the apparatus.

The super structure 13 carries suitable hopper [9 which is formed with a discharge opening 20 controlled by a swingable gate valve 2|. This latter valve is operated intermittently by means of a pivotally connected link 22 operated by suitable eccentric 23 which is carried on a crank portion of the cross shaft 24 (see Fig. 3). Two links 22 are provided to operate the elongated gate valve 2 5, each link being disposed on opposite sides of the machine and operated by each of the eccentric connections 23 as shown in Fig, 3. Below the hopper i5 is disposed the agitating table 25 which is connected with a transverse shaft 23, mounted between parallel spaced apart transverse bars 2? carried by the super structure it. In this respect reference is directed to Fig. 5 wherein it will be noted that the agitating table 25 is carried by the brackets 211a which are suitably connected such as by pins 28 with the collars 28 mounted on the shaft 26. Intermediate the ends of this shaft a fitting 38 is secured having the sloped face 3| which is designed to be engaged by the cam 32, the latter being carried on the shaft 33 which carries a pulley 34 (Fig. l) and is operated by means of the belt 35 and by pulley 36 carried on the drive shaft 18.

Rotation of the cam 32 will cause the shaft 26 to slide sideways to the extent of the movement of the cam member which, will slide over the sloped surface 3i and then disengage from the fitting 36 whereupon the shaft 26 is caused to return to normal position by means of the coil spring 3'? and the cushioning coil spring 38. This intermittent displacement of the agitating table 25 thus causes a sideways agitation of 102- enges deposited thereon from the hopper IS.

The table 25 is sloped as shown in Fig. 2 and is mounted by means of a swivel or ball type connection 39 from a raised bracket structure 46 mounted on the lower frame work. The table is fianged at its sides as indicated at 4| and is open at its lower end for the discharge of the lozenges. The lozenges are transferred from the agitating table 25 to the discharge chute 41a which has the discharge channels 42 in a number corresponding to the number of rows of lozenges it is desired to dispose in uniform arrangement for packaging in suitable containers. In the present illustration two separate series of three channels is disclosed.

The discharge chute did is connected with the table 25 by the freely projecting ends 43 of the side walls of the channels 42, the frame of the engagement between table 25 and chute 4 I a. while the channels 42 are flared or widened at this point as indicated at 45 in order to guide the lozenges into the channels 42. These lozenges finally pass through the channels 42 one ahead of the other by reason of the width of the channels.

At the points where the chute lia curves or otherwise changes direction as at 46 (Fig. 2) the channels are covered by a suitable cover plate thus to permit their transition to the inclined base portion 47 of the chute, down which they slide by gravity to be received on the bed 48. In the present instance it will be clear that each series of three channels will therefore dispose three rows of lozenges at two spaced apart points on the bed 48, (Fig. 9). As they slide on to the bed 48 the stop pins 49 projecting from the upper surface of a control lever 55 move up to traverse a plurality of slots 5i formed in the bed 48 to stop the downward movement of the lozenges on the chute 41a. The upward movement of the pins 49 is timed to permit the passage of three lines of four lozenges to be deposited on the bed, the outermost of each line being disposed directly adjacent to a vertically slidable gate valve 52 which is carried on the frame work of the bed.

The bed 48 is defined into a receiving area X and a transferring area Y, the former being defined by the side walls 53 projecting upwardly from the bed and the gate 52, the latter area being disposed between the gate 52, the end wall 54 and side walls, to be referred to later. The gate 52 is caused to drop by gravity and operates in the vertically disposed slide 55.

Normally when the lozenges have been received in the receiving area X of the bed, the gate 52 is held in its uppermost position by means of a holding plate 55a which is connected to and moves with the outermost end of the lever 50. The lever 50 is swingably mounted as at 56 on the sliding frame 57 disposed below the bed 48 and is designed to be slid from the point shown in Fig. 6 to the point shown in Fig. '7 by means of the link 58 pivotally connected to the angularly projecting arm 59 of this lever and eccentrically connected as at 65 to the disc 6|. It is obvious therefore that upon rotation of the disc 6 I sliding movement of the lever will take place. Moreover the transverse bar 62 mounted on lever 50 and in turn carrying the necessary number of projecting pins 49, in this case four as shown in Fig. 9, will be caused to move with lever 50. It will be clear also that upon movement of the lever 56 from the position shown in Fig. 6 to the position shown in Fig. 7 the series of lozenges disposed in advance of the pins 49 will be shifted from receiving section X of bed 48 to the transferring section Y.

The disc BI is rotated by shaft 62a. (Fig. 3) which is driven by the meshing bevel gears 65 and 66, the latter being carried by the drive shaft I8 and the former carried on the shaft 62a. Thus disc 6| is rotated in timed relation with other mechanisms of the machine and for every rotation of disc El the lever 56 is reciprocated once. Moreover when this lever has been reciprocated to the position shown in Fig. '7 and the disc 6| continues to rotate lever 50 will swing about its pivotal mounting 56 as shown in Fig. 8 thus to withdraw the pins 49 from engagement with the last of the series of lozenges which they pushed from the receiving section X to the transferring section Y. Furthermore the holding plate 55a of lever 50 is likewise lowered thus dropping the gate 52 together. with itsattachedxseries of pins 63: which willbe disposed between the spaces of the adjacent. rows of lozengesandv in a substantially co responding position to the .normalvertical. position of the .pins. 49 at the endof the transferring movementof lever The. gate. carrying these pins .63 forms. a stop. to prevent the gravity-fed lozenges from. going beyond the. receivingstation X.

Asthe disc Bl continues to rotate and the upper end of slot 64a engages pin 64b whichextends. between the sides of .the carriagefi], the downward swins ne movem nt. of le r 59 W l top. and the continued mov men of the ink; 8 with the rotatin isc Iil w l return the carria 5,1, and lever, 50 to its .originalpositiom, As the pivqtzpo nt'fifl. on the disc 6! moves pastdea center, a sh wn in F 6. h .in nedl ver w ll be returned to its normal horizontal position wherein the pins 49 are again projected between the lozenges. disposed in the receiving section X and thos Which are disposed on the inclined chute 41, ,This is clear merely from consideration of Fig. 6.

It will. be clear of course that, as the machine employs two chutes discharging onto the receiving' bed 48., the parts described in conjunction with Figs. 6 to 8 above are duplicated. This will be apparent from a consideration of Fig. 9v illustrating the receiving bed in top plan view, and also from a consideration of Figs. 3 and 4.

Each time that lozenges are delivered to the transferring section Y of the bed 48,,they are subjected to a compacting operation to assure that the grouped lozenges are arranged in an area of exact dimensions, such as to correspond withthe area of boxes into which they are packed, and when; they are. so arranged they are transferred by a transferring mechanism from receiving section Y to a point of discharge and disposed in the boxes. The transferring is effected by means of o posed suction heads C, reference to which will be had hereinafter, and these suction heads are swung backand forth between two opposed points during the transferring operations by meansof a vertical shaft C In order to compact the lozenges within the defined area, as for instance, to take up any spacing that might be caused by loose wrapping and also to assure that the group of lozenges in each transferring-section Y are disposed in a flat plane, suitablecompacting means is provided. In this instance each transferring section is provided with the movable side and end walls 63a and 54 in addition to the stationary side wall 64 (Fig. 13) and the gate 52 which, in its lowered position, forms a stationary end wall. The side wall 63a and end wall 54 are movable inwardly tov effect the slight compacting operation desired, while the stationary side wa1l64 is provided with a hinged flap 65 which is of an area and shape to correspond with the area of the transferring section Y when the side wall 63a and end wall 54 are moved inwardly.

In sequence of operation, after a group of lozenges has. been projected into the transferring section Y, the hinged. cover flaps 65 are caused to swing down to engage and compress the top portion of the lozenges. This is effected in any suitable manner, the present illustration, as shown in Fig. 13, incorporating the pivotally connected link members 66 and 61, the former being pivoted to the coverflaps 65 and the latter being fixedly secured'to the pulleys 68 which. are oscillated,

fiesfihe rr s ri e ati n of h u or th suctionheads C such.as by. the cables 'E8aoperated by the. spool .portionfi8b of sleeve.6 2b keyed to shaftCl, uponrthe partial rotation of shaft C Consequently, as the suction heads C swing with a groupnof lozengespreviously received in the transferring section Y, and the next group isprojected into the transferring section Y, the cover flaps. 65. are. initially caused .to swing to the lowered dotted: line position shown in Fig. 13, thus to effects; slight compressing of the lozenges with vertically. downwardly. directed pressure. Substantiallysimultaneous with this operation, the side. wall 63a andthe endwall .54 of each transferring section Y are caused to move inwardly to compress. the group. of lozenges into the required accurate area so that they will be firmly grouped, inslight bearing contact with one another. This movement. of thewalls 63a. and 5.4 is effected by means of a toggle mechanism which includes the linksfifl and 10 pivotally connected to the operatingslide 1| which, is pivotally connected to fitting 12 carrying the vertical arm 13. The verticalarm13.is.designed to be engaged by the cam l4 carried: on the shaftv 24, the cam I4 being designedto exert. pressure on the arm 13. during part. of its rotationsd as to press the operating slide .1 I; against. the compression .of the coil spring '15 which. isv anchored at one. end of the slide. H and at the other end is anchoredto. the down.- .ward1y.:.projecting pin 16 (Fig. ,6)... The links 69 and J0 pivoted at their inner end to theslide H are pivoted at theirouter ends. to the links Hand 1.8, the. links being commonly. pivoted together and suchcommon pivot vpoint beingv also the common point of. pivotalconnection with the links .69 and lo'isee-Eig. 9);... The opposite ends of the, links 11 and 1a arepivotallyconnected withthe downwardly. projecting fingers 19 and 80. connected respectivelrw th the movable side walls .63a...an 1

movah ea nd:walls. The fin ers 19 and pro: ieetzun ar ly t rou h th ui e slots 81 and 82 n the. bed to onnectwiththe wall 6.3 -and. 5.4. Norma ly h n. the c m press s t e rm 13 inatdly to n esst e lide]! a ainst the p ssure Qf hecoi prin ]5...it will b o vious. h t th o h the link c tionsde cr bed... efiected between theslid ll a d. the'wa ls, 6 a and .5 of tr n e in ee i hX that th s w s wi lhe el n t e out r o tne it n. shown Fi Howe erwh h. the-t m l r l a s its re s e. on a m 13... th Sli IL. in. fo l wi t ca sur ace l be m ted. w rd th lo r ar of th ca by .th gm s r hg 'l hereforellinks 69 an llltwi be pulled with. Qcnsequentpull on the links 11. andflli; causing thewalls 6.311 and '54 tov be Pul ed o th i innerm st r o ition to mpress h .r ure .q l zen e ansfe ring se tion Y held 'below thefdownwardly compressing flaps 15.5. e r p of. lozen es..- thereior a r ady. fo tra sferth Poi ts? dis arge hen i d y the suction heads which are then rotated.

eni h shaf 9 r tates in a ev se e ic to return the; 51 01191 eadsC from point of dissh es e ano nt disposed/ v th tran rr n to trees andr mc q er up o s n ainedi t rein it i be a p re t t su re urn r ationo shaftfl will. throu h the instrumentality referred to in connection w th the. flaps; 55 rais h m Ju t imm diat l b f r d wnward morement f: e u t ah ads Wh le-the am. a th a nmn iat m ntw releasethe do walls liaa and 5,4 sothat. thegroup w snw fmm t ra fer n 1. transfer; h

Before dealing specifically with the construction and operation of the suction heads and the transferring operation which they entail, reference to the feeding and disposition of the boxes would appear to be desirable. The boxes and their positioning can best be appreciated by reference to Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5. Referring first of all to Fig. 1, the opposed transverse shafts 83 and 84 are mounted on the framework in any suitable manner and are designed to carry pairs of spaced apart pulleys 85 and 85 respectively. These pulleys, as will be noted from Figs. 3 and 4 are spaced apart on their shafts a distance sufiicient freely to accommodate therebetween the area of the receiving sections X and transferring sections Y of the bed 48. The pairs of pulleys B5 and 86 carry the conveyor belts 81 and 88 which are designed in their travel to pass by on each side of the transferring sections Y (see Fig. 3).

A suitable form of conveyor is more particularly illustrated in Fig. 14 carrying the spaced transverse ribs 89. These are spaced apart a suitable distance to accommodate therebetween the boxes D which are designed to receive groups of lozenges from the transferring section Y and are of an area which substantially corresponds to the area of transferring section Y when the movable side and end walls 630. and 54 are moved to their compressing positions.

The conveyor belts 81 and 88 are designed to be moved intermittently to stop at stations on outside of each transferring sections Y of bed 48 for sufficient length of time to permit the transfer of two groups of lozenges from each of the transferring sections Y to and into these boxes. This is accomplished by means of mechanism previously described and concerning links 69, 10, 1'! and 18 and the walls 63a and 54, the latter being pulled to their innermost position to compress the group of lozenges in transferring section Y held below the downwardly depressing flap 65 whereby the groups of lozenges are ready for transfer to the point of discharge when lifted by the suction heads which are then rotated; thus to provide a completely filled box carrying two groups of lozenges, one on top of the other.

Movement of the conveyors is effected'from the drive shaft [8 by means of the eccentrics 90 and their strap connections 9| with the arms 92 (see Fig. 14) The arms 92 are designed to pivotally connect with lugs 93 downwardly projecting from the slide blocks 94 (see Fig. 17) which slide in the parallel spaced apart guideways 95. The blocks 94 carry the pivotal angle fingers or dogs 96 which are spring pressed upwardly by a relatively weak spring 91, the upper ends of the fingers 96 terminating just below the under surface of the conveyors 81 and 88, which latter are provided with the transverse strap members or other suitable projections 98 disposed directly below the ribs 89 and are designed to be engaged by the fingers 96. It will be apparent therefore that with each complete revolution of the eccentrics 90 the blocks 94 will be moved to the dotted line position (Fig. 14) and therefore the conveyor belts will be moved a corresponding distance which in fact corresponds substantially with the length of each box.

The eccentrics 90 are caused to operate intermittently by employing the clutch 90a (Fig. which when engaged places these eccentrics in driving relation with the drive shaft l8. The clutch 90a is engaged by means of the swingable arm 991) on its stop shaft 900 which is operated by the bevel driving gear d carried on the drive shaft l8 and designed to mesh with the bevel gear 90c. Therefore, intermittent movement of the conveyors is provided to advance them a distance of the length of one box for each revolution of eccentrics 90. Moreover, when this advance has been made and the slide blocks 94 returned to starting position again, the bevelled top 99 of the fingers 96 will brush past the straps or projections 98- while the conveyor remains stationary.

The conveyor belt arrangement is such that a box will be stopped on the outside of each of the transferring sections Y and at a point located between these sections as shown in Fig. 4, so that the containers stopped in this position are located to coincide with the terminal point of the suction heads in their transferring movement from the transferring section Y during a 90 degree rotation of shaft C The suction heads C are formed with a plurality of suction cups I00, which project from their lower faces and are provided in number corresponding to the number of lozenges it is desired to pack in one layer in a box and arranged in suitable arrangement to coincide with the disposition of each lozenge one to the other in any one layer in a box. In the present case, therefore, having regard to the grouped lozenges shown in Fig. 4, there will be twelve suction cups I90. These are designed to communicate in suitable manner with the suction chamber IEH of the suction heads C which in turn are connected by the conduit I02 with a suitable source of suction intermittently applied, as will be referred to in more detail hereinafter. It is sufficient to point out at this stage that when suction is intermittently applied in timed relation to the movement and disposition of the suction heads, said suction cups may be engaged with a group of lozenges in transferring section Y, caused to adhere to the cups when suction is applied, and may therefore be lifted from transferrin section Y and transferred to their ultimate location where they are released upon release of the suction.

The suction heads are carried on the opposed arms I03 which are angularly offset as at I04 (see Fig. 4) the arms being so arranged that the suction heads may be disposed accurately over the transferring sections Y, whereas upon rotation in a clockwise direction through 90 degrees to their extremity of movement in this direction, they will be accurately disposed over the waiting containers D stopped at the outer sides of the transferring sections Y on the conveyor belts 81 and 88. Obviously, therefore, a transfer of lozenges from transferring sections Y to boxes D can be readily made and, moreover, by timing the oscillation of the vertical shaft C the suction heads may be moved from transferring sections Y to the waiting boxes D twice while these boxes are held in the said stationary position. Consequently, a box may be filled with two superimposed layers of lozenges.

The vertical shaft C is slidably supported on the framework, being slidably carried in sleeve 621) which is keyed thereto, carried by suitable bearing and is designed not only for an oscillating rotational motion, but also for a vertical motion. This is effected in a suitable manner and in the present illustration, accomplished by way of opposed cooperating solenoids, although other instrumentalities might be used. Assuming that the suction heads C are disposed, as shown in Fig. 4, directly over the transferring sections Y of the bed 43, the end of shaft en aged by the vertically moving core I05 of the solenoid I06 will permit the shaft 0 to move downwardly upon shutting off the current fed to the solenoid. Accordingly, solenoid core I05 is caused to slide downwardly and shaft C accordingly will move downwardly to engage its suction cups I00 with the lozenges disposed in the receiving sections Y. Suction being applied to the suction cups through the suction system, (to be described later), current is again supplied to the, solenoid I06 and the consequent upward movement of the core I05 will therefore raise. shaft C Consequently, upon energizing solenoid I01, which is designed to function in a push-pull manner, and the core I0'Ia of which is connected pivotally to arm I08 of sleeve 62a (Fig. 3), the movement of the core of this solenoid to the full length of its stroke will cause the shaft to be swung in a clockwise direction and to terminate its movement when the suction'heads C are disposed directly over the waitin boxes D on the conveyors 61 and 88. By shutting off the current to solenoid I01 at this point and also shutting off the current to solenoid I06 at this point, the shaft C will be caused to slide downwardly to dispose the suction heads C partially within the waiting boxes D and the release of suction will therefore release the groups of lozenges in the boxes. Thus, upon energizetion of the solenoid I00, the shaft 0 is raised and then, upon immediate energization of solenoid I01, it is caused to pull the core back to original position and return the suction heads to their position over the transferring sections Y for a repeat of this operation.

The solenoids I06 and I01 are operated in timed relation withthe other mechanism and effect-ed by means of the shaft I09 (Fig. 2), operated from the reduction unit I5 and carrying the sprocket IIO designed, by chain connection, to drive the sprocket I I I carried on the solenoid timing shaft 1 I2. This latter shaft is shown schematically in Fig. 24, from which it will be noted that it carries the discs H3 and N4, of suitable insulating material as well as the collector rings I I5 and I I0.

The disc H3 is designed for the control of solenoid I06, and includes the opposed segments H1 and I I8 extending over a substantial arc of the periphery of the disc I I3'which, is engaged by the brush I I9. The latter is connected by the lead I with one terminal of the coil of solenoid I06 and designed to move the core I05 which, in the present illustration, is of the permanent magnet type. The other terminal of the coil is connected by the lead I2I whichconnects with the input terminal I22 of'the solenoid circuits. The other input terminal I23 of the circuits is connected by the lead I24 with brush I25 making contact with the collector ring II6 which, is connected by the lead I26 with thejsegments H1 and I I0 of the disc II3. As a result, therefore, during the period of contact of the brush H9 and either segments H1 or IIB, the coil in solenoid I06 will be energized thus to cause the core I05 to move upwardly from the solenoid casing. This will effect the raising of the shaft C for alternate periods of corresponding duration and the segments are of such length, having regard to the speed of rotation of the shaft II2 that theshaft C will be held in the raised positionby solenoid I06 during each rotational movement of shaft 62 to and from the transferring section Y, of bed 48, and the position of the waiting containers D.

2 Disc I I4 is provided with the opposed segments I21 and I28 which occupy but a small arc of the periphery of disc H4 and therefore function momentarily to effect the rotational movements of shaft C during the time it is raised by the solenoid I06. In this connection the segments I21 and I28 are connected by the leads I29 and I30 respectively with the collector ring H5 and lead I26. Furthermore, the segments I21 and I28 are engaged by a suitable brush I3I connected by thelead I32 with the stationary coil I33 of solenoid I01. The other terminal of the stationarycoil being connected by the lead I34 with the brush I35 which also engages the periphery of disc II4. Moreover the movable coil I36 of solenoid I01 is connected by the leads I38 and I39 with the input terminals I22 and I23 of the solenoid circuits. As a result of this, the

I movable coil is always maintained energized during operation of the machine and the direction of the current in the stationary coil I33 is reversed in timed relation so as to produce a push pull effect. In this "connection it will be understood that when the brush I3I contacts with the segment I21, current will flow from the input terminal I22 through the lead I40 to brush I4I of the collector ring I I5 and it will pass to the segment I 21by the lead I29 through the brush I3I and via lead I32 through the stationary coil I33 and return by way of lead 34 to the brush I35 which at'that instant will be engaged with the segment I28 so that through the leads I30 and I26, collector ring H6 and lead I24, the current flows to the input terminal I23. This will cause the repulsion of the core of solenoid I01 and therefore will cause rotary movement of the shaft C to move the suction heads C from their position over the receiving sections Y to their position over the waiting boxes D. However, when the disc II4 rotates to position the segment I28 in contact with brush I3I, and segment I21 in contact with brush I35, current will flow from the input terminal I22 via lead I40, brush I4I, col lector ring H5 and the lead I29 to segment I21 and through the brush I35, lead I34, coil I33 and then by wa of lead I32 to the brush I3I and from segment I28 via leads I30 and I26, collector ring II6 and lead I24 to the input terminal I23. This therefore reverses the flow of current through the coil I23 and consequently will cause a retraction of the core of solenoid I01. As a result therefore the shaft C is rotated so that the suction heads C are returned from their position over the waiting boxes D to their position over the receiving sections Y of the bed 48.

When suction heads C are disposed in either of these extreme positions due to the operation of solenoid I01, the brush '9 momentarily disengages from either of the segments H1 or II8 as the case may be, thus stopping the flow of current to solenoid I06 as the brush passes over the insulated part of the periphery of disc II3. Therefore, the solenoid core I05 naturally drops, to lower shaft C and the suction heads C, either into transferring sections Y of bed 46 or the two opposed waiting boxes D, as the case may be. Consequently, the shaft 0 is controlled in timed relation both in its vertical movement and rotary movement.

It is obvious of course that the coil I36 may be replaced by a permanent magnet thus dispensing with leads I38 and I39. Likewise as an alternative connection to the solenoid I01, the leads I34,

I32 and the leads I38, I39 may connect to coils I36 and I33 respectively.

Suction is applied to the suction heads C by means of the suction pump E. This is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 19 connected by flexible air line I42 with the valve I43 which is mounted on the upper end of shaft and connected through the conduits I44 and I45, with the suction heads C. As shown in Fig. 20, the pump E includes a piston I46 which is reciprocated by the piston rod I41 eccentrically connected to the disc I 48 which, is rotated from the shaft I89 by means of the chain connected sprockets I49 and I50, the latter being keyed on the stub shaft I5! which carries the disc I48 (see Fig. 2).

The piston I46 is provided with a port I53 controlled by a flap valve I54 so that, on the inward motion, any air therewithin passes out through port I53, while on the return or outward motion, partial vacuum is created and applied through the air line I42. This connects with the passage I55, in the valve I43, which in turn communicates directly with the fitting I56 to which the conduits I44 and I45 are connected so that, during the suction stroke of pump E, a partial vacuum is imposed within the chamber IOI of the suction head C. The operation of the pump is timed by the gear ratio employed so as to provide a suction stroke during the period that the suction heads enter the transferring section Y, of bed 48, and then rise, swing and drop in their movement from transferring section Y to the waiting boxes D.

The valve E employs a passage I51 which houses the piston I58 which is normally outwardly pressed by a coil spring I59. One end of this spring engages the piston and the other engages the base member I66 which is subject to adjustment within the passage I51. Consequently, since the passage I55 intersects passage I51 the partial vacuum created within the passage I51 will draw the piston I58 inwardly to an extent determined by the pressure of the coil spring I59. This will have the effect of swingin inwardly the lever arm I6! pivotally mounted as at I62 on the valve casing E and connected with the piston I58 by means of piston rod I63.

The lever arm I 6| is provided with a spring pressed dog or latch member I64 normally pressed by the leaf spring I65, which when the valve is not subject to partial vacuum conditions, extends in the position shown in Fig. 20 and is disposed in the path of the switch arm I66 carrying the roller I61. This switch arm is most clearly illustrated in Fig. l as pivotally mounted on the emergency switch I68 carried on the framework above the lower level of the valve E. The switch arm is here shown in its lower position or on position. If however when the suction heads C engage their suction cups I99 with a group of lozenges in transferring section Y, and if one of these lozenges is broken or no lozenge is positioned in the area of one of these suction cups, the vacuum applied will be broken and consequently the piston I 58 will not be drawn inwardly in passage E51 of valve E. Therefore the lever arm I6I will remain in the position shown in Fig. 20. Consequently upon the upward movement of shaft C the dog I64 will engage roller I61, of switch arm I66, causing it to swing and shut off switch I68, thus stopping the operation of the machine. This therefore provides a means of stopping operation if abnormal conditions develop.

In normal operation with the lever arm l6! 12 drawn inwardly by piston I58 the dog I64 will pass the switch arm I66 in the lifting operation of shaft C Moreover, upon return rotational movement of the shaft 62, to position the suction heads over the transferring section Y, and upon downward motion of the shaft C the dog I64 will permit the lever arm I6I to brush past switch arm I66.

In order to provide for operation of the machine and not apply partial vacuum conditions to the suction heads C thus to permit the various sequences of operation without lozenges being transferred, such as in the case where it is necessary to start the machine and initially advance the lozenges to the transferring section Y. manual means is provided for shutting off suction. This is accomplished by the inclusion of an additional passage I69 in valve E including the ports I18 and HI, the former communicating between the passage I51 and passage I69 and the latter venting passage I69 to atmosphere. The plunger valve I12 is mounted in passageway I69 and operable by the handle I13. Therefore by pulling this handle outwardly to retract the valve I12 from the position shown in Fig. 20, the passage I51 is vented to atmosphere via the ports I10 and I'I'I, through the medium of port I13a in valve I12. The establishment of partial vacuum conditions therefore is thus prevented. Moreover, it will be noted that valve I12 is connected by the connecting rod I13b with the lever I6I which will be pulled inwardly on its pivot I62 so that it will not cause operation of switch I66 during this phase of operation. On the other hand, due to the lost motion connection between link I131) and link I6I, valve I12 will not be operated in the normal course when piston I58 swings lever arm I6I inwardly.

The containers D are preferably of the character employing a hinged lid such as illustrated in Fig. 14 by the numeral I14. As the boxes D are moved along on the conveyors 61 and 88 these lids hang open, for instance as illustrated in Fig. 4. After the boxes are filled these lids are closed in any simple manner. One practical means of accomplishing this is by employing a substantially spiral cam member I15 positioned in the path of the open lids in any suitable way such as by suspension by an auxiliary frame I16 (see Fig. 2). Consequently as the conveyors carry the filled boxes to the location of the spiral cam I15, the lowest portion of the cam, engaging under the lid, will start to raise it and the fol lowing contour of the cam member I15 will complete its upward and then downward swinging a movement to the closed position. When in this latter position, the covers are firmly closed by means of a roller I11 disposed on a suitable arm I18 carried from the frame-work of the machine. The location of the roller I11 being such that it will engage the closed lids of the boxes in a pressure engagement prior to their discharge from the conveyors thus to assure that the boxes are firmly closed as they are discharged. They are then discharged from the conveyors on to a suitably inclined chute I18a (Figs. 1 and 14) where they may be received on a conveyor I19, if desired, to convey them to any predetermined location.

The advantages of the invention will be apparent from the foregoing and while the inven* tion is designed preferably to handle wafer like articles it will be apparent that it is capable of handling articles of regular shape and having one substantially smooth surface such that it may be 13 picked up by the suction apparatus of the machine.

What we claim as our invention is:

1. A packaging machine comprising a receiving bed having a receiving section and a transferring section, means for feeding a series of small articles into the receiving section of said bed in predetermined grouped arrangement, means for moving said articles to the transferring section of said bed in corresponding grouped arrangement, means in connection with said transferring section for urging said group of articles within a predetermined area and including movable side and end walls for said transferring section movable inwardly to reduce the area of said transferring section and a movable cover movable into engagement with the outer portions of said articles to maintain said articles in a common plane, suction means for engaging said grouped articles in the transferring section of the bed, said suction means being movable to transfer said group of articles therefrom, and means for moving said suction means away from said transferring section or bed to release said grouped articles at a predetermined point in said grouped formation.

2. A packaging machine comprising a receiving bed having a receiving section and a transferring section, means for feeding a series of small articles into the receiving section of said bed in predetermined grouped arrangement, means for moving said articles to the transferring section of said bed in corresponding grouped arrangement, means in connection with said transferring section for urging said group of articles within a predetermined area and including movable side and end walls for said transferring section movable inwardly to reduce the area of said transferring section and a movable cover movable into engagement with the outer portions of said articles to maintain said article in a common plane, suction means for engaging said grouped articles in the transferring section of the bed, said suction means being movable to transfer said group of articles therefrom, and means for moving said suction means away from said transe ferring section or bed to release said grouped articles at a predetermined point in said grouped formation, said suction means comprising a suction head having a plurality of suction cups in predetermined arrangement and corresponding with the grouping of said articles in the transferring section of said bed, each of said cups being designed to engage a corresponding article in said transferring section, means for moving said suction head into engagement with said articles, means for applying suction to said head whereby said cups group said articles, means for moving said suction head away from said transferring section to a point of discharge, and means for releasing said articles from said cups on point of discharge.

3. A packaging machine comprising a receiving bed having a receiving section and a transferring section, means for feeding a series of small articles into the receiving section of said bed in predetermined grouped arrangement, means for moving said articles to the transferring section of said bed in corresponding grouped arrangement, means in connection with said transferring section for urging said group of articles within a predetermined area and including movable side and end Walls for said transferring section movable inwardly to reduce the area of said transferring section and a movable cover movable into engagement with the outerportions of said articles to maintain said articles in a common plane, suction means forengaging said grouped articles in the transferring section of the bed, said suction means being movable to transfer said group of articles therefrom, and means for moving said suction means away from said transferring section or bed to release said grouped articles at a predetermined point in said grouped formation, the means for feeding said articles comprising a hopper, an agitating table designed to receive the articles from the hopper, means for agitating said table, a feeding chute, said feeding chute communicating with the table and having discharge channels for feeding rows of said articles into the machine.

4. A packaging machine comprising a receiving bed having a receiving section and a transferring section, means for feeding a series of small articles into the receiving section of said bed in predetermined grouped arrangement, means for moving said articles to the transferring section of said bed in corresponding grouped arrangement, means in connection with said transferring section for urging said group of articles within a predetermined area and including movable side and end walls for said transferring section movable inwardly to reduce the area of said transferring section and a movable cover movable into engagement with the outer portions of said articles to maintain said articles in a common plane, suction means for engaging said grouped articles in the transferring section of the bed, said suction means being movable to transfer said group of articles therefrom, and means for moving said suction means away from said transferring section or bed to release said grouped articles at a predetermined point in said grouped formation, said receiving bed being slotted, said means for moving said articles to the transfer section of said bed including a swingable member having a series of projecting pins projectable through said slots and adapted to extend between a preceding and succeeding article fed into the machine to separate a group of preceding articles from a group of succeeding articles.

5. A packaging machine comprising a receiving bed having a recfllving section and a transferring section, means for feeding a series of small articles into the receiving section of said bed in predetermined grouped arrangement, means for moving said articles to the transferring section of said bed in corresponding grouped arrangement, means in connection with said transferring section for urging said group of articles within a predetermined area and including movable side and end walls for said transferring section movable inwardly to reduce the area of said transferring section and a movable cover movable into engagement with the outer portions of said arti-' cles to maintain said articles in a common plane, suction means for engaging said grouped articles in the transferring section of the bed, said suction means being movable to transfer said group of articles therefrom, and means for moving said suction means away from said transferring section or bed to release said grouped articles at a predetermined point in said grouped formation, the means for feeding said articles comprising a hopper, an agitator table designed to receive the articles from the hopper, means for agitating said table, a feeding chute, said feeding chute communicating with the table and having discharge channels for feeding rows of said articles into the machine, said receiving bed being REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number 1 I) Number 16 UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Rogers et a1 Nov. 27, 1917 Townsend July 17, 1928 Rodke Apr. 16, 1929 Thayer Aug. 11, 1936 Ayers Mar. 4, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain May 9, 1929 

